Lowe’s has launched a new Kobalt 24V 3Ah battery that features USB-C bi-directional charges.
In other words, you can recharge it via USB and also use the battery as a power bank for powering and charging other electronic devices.
From what I can see, the battery has a 3Ah charge capacity, although it’s unclear if the battery is engineered with higher performance Li-ion cells.
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The new battery will be included with new Kobalt 24V Max cordless power tool combo kits, such as this telescoping shaft string trimmer kit (priced at $129 for everything).
The string trimmer kit comes with a 30W wall charger – Kobalt doesn’t specify how long it takes to charge the battery – 100W USB-C cable, and a “USB-C adapter [that] can charge non-USB 24V Kobalt batteries.”
In other words, not only can you charge the battery via USB-C, it comes with an adapter that allows any Kobalt 24V Max battery to be charged via USB-C as well.
Here’s where things get confusing. I don’t see the adapter in any Lowe’s product images for the Kobalt tool kit. But also, if it comes with a charging adapter for Kobalt non-USB 24V cordless power tool batteries, why not just build the bi-directional USB-C port into that?
There’s more.
Kobalt appears to be launching other new 24V and 48V (24V X2) cordless power tools.
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It looks like the 48V 24Vx2 tool kits will ship 2x 3Ah batteries and a multi-port USB-C charging adapter.
Frankly, USB-C charging seems more like a cost-cutting feature than a feature, at least with respect to cordless outdoor power tools. I’d rather have a faster docking-style power tool charger and a slide-on adapter that works with any of a brand’s cordless power batteries. Apparently you do get with the kits I’ve seen, although it doesn’t seem to have power bank functionality.
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I found an image of the USB-C charging adapter, but there’s no info about it.
It looks like there will also be a Kobalt 5Ah battery with USB-C charging.
Jared
That’s pretty neat. I use my Dewalt USB-C charger to charge my laptop sometimes. I wouldn’t mind if no charge adapter was required.
One reason not to only rely on the adapter for USB-C charging is that you might be able to charge multiple batteries just with existing cables and wall pugs you already own.
Doresoom
I definitely think the USB-C charger is a cost cutting measure for 24V batteries. At a 30W charge rate, it’s going to take 3 hours 36 minutes for a 5Ah battery, and that’s with perfect efficiency. Ugh.
Alternatively, I think Chervon’s decision to go with USB-C charging for the smaller SKIL 12V batteries is a great move on their part. The included 30W charger can charge a 2Ah 10.8V battery in under an hour. I used my own 60W charger and took it down to just under 30 minutes for a full charge. Plus those smaller batteries are much easier to carry around as a power bank.
Luis
Agreed. From a cost cutting and portability perspective, USB-C makes total sense. But it’s not something that can easily provide high speed charging. 50W power tool battery chargers seem to be about the bare minimum, but 150W and above is preferred.
I wonder what’s the charging speed cap on these USB-C Kobalt (and Skil )batteries? What if you plug-in a 100W USB-C charger from a Macbook or Smartphone?